Job Description
Kaitiaki Taonga Conservator – Textiles
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum, as Kaitiaki Taonga Conservator Textiles, to be part of a great team of skilled professionals caring for collections and supporting the wellbeing of Te Papa's taonga.
Te Papa's mission is to understand the past, enrich the present and meet the challenges of the future. Our core values Whanaungatanga (Teamwork), Manaakitanga (Respect) and Auahatanga (Creativity) are at the centre of how Te Papa operates. The work of Te Papa's Collection Care team is underpinned by the practice of Mana Taonga - people-centred museology, which requires an added responsibility of care for the people who are associated with our collections and taonga. Reporting to the Manager Collection Care Practice, this position sits within Collection Services, home to our Collection Care and Exhibition Services teams.
This position is responsible for the conservation and care of Te Papa's textiles to support their use internally and by a range of external communities. The position achieves this through sound risk management and conservation practice when caring for and working with collections. Textiles are represented across all of Te Papa's Humanities collections including New Zealand History, Pacific Cultures, Mātauranga Māori, and Art.
The successful applicant will:
- Identify conservation needs, risks and mitigation measures for textiles from across the Humanities collections
- Design and carry out treatments, following appropriate cultural protocols and conservation ethics
- Carry out condition assessments, surveys and complete required documentation
- Carry out prioritised research to identify materials and to test and develop treatment methodologies
- Represent Collection Care perspectives in audience programming delivery teams
- Keep up to date with current conservation technologies, methodologies and materials
- Share knowledge in professional newsletters, journals and/or present at conferences when appropriate.
To be successful in the role, you'll bring:
- A tertiary qualification in conservation (textiles), along with recent and continuous experience working as a conservator within a museum or gallery setting, preferably for at least five years.
- Experience working with diverse collections of textiles
- Strong communication, planning and time management abilities, and a passion for working collaboratively with project teams in a dynamic environment
- Proficiency with collection information systems and technologies used for the examination, assessment and documentation of collections
- The ability and willingness to learn and practice Te reo Māori and cultural practices
The position description provides further information about the role. Please apply online using the application form, and include a cover letter (no more than two pages) describing how your skills and background are a fit with the position and your ambitions for it, and a CV (no more than 4 pages) that details your relevant work experience.
Questions about this position can be sent to Manager Collection Care Practice, [email protected]
Based in Wellington, you'll be working 40 hours per week Monday – Friday, with some flexibility around start and finish times. The starting salary for this position will be between $89,299 to $94,167 with opportunity for progression through the band. Offers will be made within the range to reflect the skills and experience offered by the candidate and internal relativities.
This is a permanent role and applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain the legal right to work in New Zealand.
Prior to Te Papa confirming any offer of employment, pre-employment checks will be undertaken including criminal conviction history and reference checking as a minimum
Applications close: 15 August 2025
This is a re-advertisement, previous applicants need not apply.
